Just Breathe by Tamara Mataya Pages: 207
Published by Swoon Romance on May 6, 2014
Genres: contemporary, Dating & Sex, Love & Romance, New Adult
Source: eARC from Publisher
Twenty-one-year-old Elle Granger’s boyfriend broke up with her like a coward. He moved to another city without so much as a kiss goodbye. Devastated and embarrassed, Elle told her friends the break-up was mutual and hid her heartache working long hours at the library. By night, she self medicated with pot. Weeks later, with her heart and lungs screaming for a break, Elle quits smoking and turns to her friends. But before she can let them in on Jason’s betrayal, her best friend moves to Spain, and her roommates start acting strangely.
Enter sexy library patron Dominic, who sweeps Elle off her feet and into his Maserati. He makes her feel oh so good, and puts effort into coming up with dates that don’t set off her Synaesthesia. Just when Elle starts feeling whole again, Jason returns, determined to reunite. Elle rejects his effusive apologies and reasons for leaving – until she catches Dominic in a devastating lie.
Will his betrayal push her back into her suddenly attentive ex’s arms? Can she trust Jason not to break her heart again? The wrong choice and Elle’s happy ending could go up in smoke. But when your only choices are the devils you know, all you can do is JUST BREATHE.
What I loved about Just Breathe was how character driven the story was. The plot was good and all, but the characters came to life. They made the story. We got to know both of the main characters so well, even though Just Breathe was told only from Elle’s point of view, which is pretty impressive. Dominic shone through Elle and the reader gets a fantastic picture of who he is. Just Breathe really focuses on how Elle and Dominic are getting/have gotten over their respective last relationships, which did a number on each of them.
Elle is so cool. She is a librarian and she loves books just as much as I do. It was hilarious to see her get so genuinely mad about the person that was underlining some of phrases in the library books. She refused to continue reading one of them that had some underlining. It just ruined her reading experience. What I also loved about Elle was how excited she got to recommend books to others. She just lit up like a child at Christmas.
It was hard to see both Elle and Dominic so wrecked over their exes because they both seem like such genuinely good people. People you can’t help but sympathize with. Elle is a complete sweetheart and Jason, her ex, just went out of town and somewhere during his trip stopped calling. She found out he moved away without a word. (and don’t worry- his jerkiness does not end there.) Dominic’s ex lied to him left and right. She did not have her life together at all. It was just so sad because Dominic seemed unreal. I can’t imagine anyone not being blown away by him. Elle has a condition called synesthesia, which makes her sensitive to certain sounds and textures. Dominic went completely out of his way to make sure he planned “safe” and pretty amazing dates for the two of them. (like Zookeeper for a day! I want to do that!!)
But as with any good book, things are not always smooth sailing for the two of them. As much as you want everything to be roses and butterflies because they are both just such good people, I could tell that they each had secrets. Elle tells us what hers is and Dominic’s were not hard to figure out. I spent a good portion of the book wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. And it did drop. But don’t worry. Just Breathe is a really nicely wrapped up standalone so you will get the whole story, and it is a good one. A nice book that made me feel very content. (<– That’s an Elle thing.)
Fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win:
(1) $10 USD Gift Card to Amazon.com – International
(1) eBook copy of JUST BREATHE(mobi and epub)– International
Note: this giveaway is not sponsored by Book briefs. All of the terms and conditions of the giveaway should be contained in the rafflecopter form below
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
kindlemom1
I am glad this is a stand alone, I like my romances to be wrapped up nicely by the end.
Tamara Mataya
Thanks for reviewing! I have to admit, I really do hate underliners of library books. That bit was inspired by life 😉
Teresa Mary Rose
This sounds like a good read and I think I would like Elle… I love when a character enjoys books as much as I do. Great review!
Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives
kimbacaffeinate
Ella sounds great in fact all of the characters do.Wonderful review Michelle
Christy
See, that’s what I love – a good character driven story. Haha – zookeeper for a day as a date would definitely give a guy major points.